Would be a class signing thats for sure. He looked impressive for Fax last season, big tall rangy prop who carries the ball well and has a fair bit of skill. Our front row would benefit from some size I think as Tonks, Dickens and Morrison whilst all good, tough players are a touch short so James would complement them well.

But if they have a community set up, the players can be paid part by the RLFC and part by the community set up for the 'work' they do for that community - and it's legit!!! A lot of clubs do this to get around the cap. One thing that Barrow has that we don't is Des Johnson - who's pockets are seemingly bottemless!!

I'm not making any allegations or insinuation about brown envelopes here!!!!

But if they have a community set up, the players can be paid part by the RLFC and part by the community set up for the 'work' they do for that community - and it's legit!!! A lot of clubs do this to get around the cap. One thing that Barrow has that we don't is Des Johnson - who's pockets are seemingly bottemless!!

I'm not making any allegations or insinuation about brown envelopes here!!!!

The fact is that we averaged crowds of 2,400 last season, have a club lottery that brings in over £300K a year and had a turnover in excess of £800,000. Don't assume Des 'buys' all these players because he doesn't. The club now has the means to do that by itself. We also have a smaller squad than last season.

It's funny how these 'brown envelope' craics are never levelled at other clubs, who have obviously lost very few players from last year but brought in a lot high quality overseas signings for 2010.

It costs a lot of money to bring over a NZ/Aus/PNG player in flights, visa fees, accomodation, bills, salary, bonuses etc etc. Far more than it does to employ GB based players who travel to training 2-3 times a week.

Don't forget SRC, we've engaged some of you signings in negotiations ourselves and people at our club have with a high degree of certainty, a clear picture of what Barrow have offered some players. In addition, Yorkshire based players and families talk about the game, their club and "their pay deal"! Not all keep it secret and the details are widely known from the individuals themselves. So, doing the maths and totting up those we know would indicate a level of expenditure (along with Fax,) far greater than owt in the division. We averaged 1800 last year. An extra 600 would have been nice and would yeild about an extra £75k a year - but that would only pay for Jamie's and Ned's contract!! The rest of the squad that you have - and there's some quality in there, fitting into £225k??? I don't think so given we spoke with Fletch, Hendo et al!!!! 2400 would bring in an income of around 300k. Even with a mooted lottery of 300k, 600k to pay all the players (from which ever budget), coaching team, admin team, groundsman and equipt, rates, and upkeep and maintenance of the stadium would come to far in excess of this. Either the future of Barrow is very Shakey indeed or, as is likely, Des is Bankrolling it. Again, nowt wrong with that.

It's not a criticism. It's a huge payroll funded in part by the club and in part by other means i.e. community development/scholarship/generation teams etc etc - that's how it's done!! I wished we had such a wealthy investor.

Robin, yes it would be nice to be bankrolled, but do not let us underestimate the potential which we have at Big Fellas.I believe that we now have a squad and backroom staff to match any in the league. Let em sign their big names but at the end of the day it all boils down to determination and team spirit.PS. Thi beards coming along nicely !!!.